BANGI: Nur Aqilah Yusof proved her sharpness in the women’s individual recurve event even though she was making her first appearance at the Institutions of Higher Learning Sports Championship (SUKIPT) representing Mara University of Techonology (UiTM).
Experience gave Aqilah the upper hand as she recorded 581 hits to win gold, defeating University Putra Malaysia (UPM) archer Ang Ming Shan who settled for silver, while Sultan Zainal Abidin University’s (UNISZA) Shaerra Ezzaty Saffuan took bronze.
“This is the first time I am taking part in SUKIPT and I was pushed quite a fair bit as I weathered strong competition from Archers representing other universities. The winds were quite strong today but I am used to such weather adversities.
“After this I will continue to train and work even harder to represent the country because that’s been my dream all the while. SUKIPT is also an athletes selection platform for the Asean University Games (AUG),” said Aqilah when met at the Pavilion Stadium at University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) earlier today.
In other developments, the 2016 Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma) sportswoman said her performance at present has deteriorated slightly because she has been busy with her academic responsibilities and other sports activities.
However, the athlete who was once embroiled in the issue of using the banned substance Sibutramine two years ago is determined to retain the sportswoman title at the Malaysia Games in Perak come September apart from vying for the same title at SUKIPT this time round.
Meanwhile, Mohd Alif Adha Hassan of University Putra Malaysia (UPM) won gold in the men’s individual recurve event by amassing 614 points, with silver going to Mohamad Amir Iman Abdul Manaf of the Malaysia Community College (612 points) and bronze going to UPM’s Nazir Omar (606 points).
Archery has 14 gold medals on offer overall at SUKIPT this time round.